US report finds ethanol may damage fuel pumps

Ethanol-blended petrol may damage car engines by harming fuel pumps, according to a US study funded by oil refiners and car makers.

The industry groups have opposed the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency that allows so-called E15 blended fuels, which contain up to 15 per cent ethanol.

In Australia and the US, most service stations sell E10 blends, which are deemed safe for most modern cars by both manufacturers and petrol companies.

But while the EPA cleared the E15 blend for most vehicles sold since 2001, the study released by the Coordinating Research Council shows it may cause fuel-pump failures, component swelling and problems that could trigger on-board diagnostic system breakdowns.

‘‘Given the types of vehicles tested, it’s safe to say that millions could be affected,’’ Bob Greco, the American Petroleum Institute’s downstream group director, told reporters.

‘‘The more we study, unfortunately, the more difficult issues we uncover.’’

Ethanol, fermented from molasses, wheat starch or sorghum, is seen by many as an effective way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In NSW, the government has mandated that 60 per cent of unleaded fuel in the state must be an E10 blend. Other states are less enthusiastic about the fuel blend and have no mandates, although petrol retailers still sell the fuel in forecourts.

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In the US, E10 can be sold without any advisory stickers, but the EPA and the Federal Trade Commission require E15 sellers to post a ‘‘prominent orange and black label’’ to let consumers know a pump contains the higher concentration of ethanol.

Supporters of its use say refiners are funding studies such as the one released today by the Coordinating Research Council in their bid to overturn the Renewable Fuel Standard, either in court challenges or through legislation.

‘‘This is more of the same old junk science, recycled by oil companies to continue to attack biofuels, which are cutting into their market segment and bottom line,’’ Michael Frohlich, a spokesman for the ethanol-industry group Growth Energy, said in an e-mail.

‘‘I am surprised that the CRC has not attempted to provide ’scientific’ data that links E15 to flat tyres."